When it comes to deciphering the mysterious imagery in the book of Revelation, few voices bring clarity quite like New York Time best-selling author Jonathan Cahn.
In a recent sermon, Cahn unpacked a stunning series of parallels between the prophetic visions of Ezekiel and those recorded by the apostle John.
“In Revelation, the order of the creatures are this: a lion, ox, man and eagle,” Cahn began. “Interesting, because the Gospels are also four Gospels, and they are four sides of Messiah.”
From the opening moments, Cahn took his audience deep into the Old Testament, linking Ezekiel’s prophetic scroll, “written on both sides,” with the same kind of scroll described in Revelation 5. “That’s exactly what Ezekiel saw,” he said. “With seven seals.”
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Cahn pointed out that in both books, the prophets are told to eat the scroll. Ezekiel is commanded, “Eat what is before you. Eat this scroll,” and John is told by an angel, “Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth, it will be sweet as honey.” Cahn added, “That’s a parallel. Ezekiel is a foreshadow—is a decoder of Revelation.”
The message didn’t stop with scrolls and creatures. Cahn highlighted that both prophets fell facedown when encountering the glory of God. “Ezekiel says, ‘When I saw it, I fell on my face,’” he quoted. “Revelation—John says, ‘When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man.’”
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One of the most powerful connections Cahn emphasized was the role of the watchman. Referring to Ezekiel 33, Cahn quoted, “Son of man, you are the watchman. And if I give you this word, you must give it to your people to save them.” He then shared a personal moment after he first went on television to speak about The Harbinger: “I came back on the plane, I said, ‘Lord, it’s a heavy message.’ And I opened up the Bible, I just opened up, and it opens up to: ‘Son of man, I made you a watchman. If you do not blow the trumpet, I will hold you accountable.’”
Revelation is not just prophecy—it’s a call to action. “The Book of Revelation is the trumpet of the watchman,” Cahn said. “That’s from Ezekiel. That’s what it is.”
Perhaps one of the most chilling insights came when Cahn connected the “thirds” of judgment in Ezekiel to the repeated phrase in Revelation: a third of the earth, a third of the trees, a third of the sea. “It all follows the prototype of Ezekiel,” he declared. “Those judgments were a foreshadow of the Revelation judgments that will come on the whole world.”
Cahn leaves us with a reminder of God’s protection for His people.
Quoting Ezekiel 9, he explained, “Make a mark on their foreheads.” He then revealed the Hebrew letter used: Tav. “Tav is actually a letter in the Hebrew alphabet… it means you are free from judgment if you have that cross, that seal. You are protected.” He added, “The cross is your guarantee. You are marked against any harm.”
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“We are all called to be His watchmen,” Cahn reminds us. “You know of a judgment coming, and if you don’t spread the gospel, then we are accountable for their blood.”
James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
